Alan Low

Sir Alan Roberts Low (11 January 1916 – 18 April 1999) was a New Zealand economist. He was the fifth governor of the Reserve Bank.

Low was born in Blenheim in 1916, the son of Benjamin Low.^[1] His father became headmaster of Timaru Main School and Alan Low attended there before going to Timaru Boys' High School.^[2] He then attended the University of Canterbury (1934–1937) and graduated with a Master of Arts (honours) in economics.^[2]

Low served in WWII from 1942 to 1944, and belonged to the 24th Field Ambulance of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.^[1][2]

Low joined the Reserve Bank in 1938. He became assistant economist in 1949, economic adviser in 1951, assistant governor in 1960, and deputy governor (under Gilbert Wilson) in 1962.^[1] Low was Governor of the Reserve Bank from 21 July 1967 to 11 February 1977.^[3] Low was a member of various New Zealand delegations to international conferences, including Havana (Cuba, 1947/48), Annecy (France, 1949), London (Great Britain, 1951), and Sydney (Australia, 1954).^[1] He published various articles in economic journals.^[1] He was a director of the National Bank of New Zealand.^[2]

In the 1977 Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours, Low was appointed a Knight Bachelor.^[4] In the same year, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Canterbury (LL.D.).^[5]

On 19 December 1940, he married Kathleen Harrow, the daughter of E. J. Harrow. They had one son and two daughters.^[1] In 1978, the Lows lived in Lower Hutt.^[1] His hobbies included music, gardening, and reading.^[1] He died on 18 April 1999.^[2]